Rhythm of War (9781429952040)
98. An Unwholesome Shade
by Sanderson, BrandonThe chapter opens with Dalinar surveying the aftermath of a brutal battlefield, where the mingled scents of smoke and blood evoke memories of past conflicts. He analyzes the patterns of fallen soldiers, noting how their positions reveal the battle’s progression—broken lines, desperate river defenses, and fleeing troops marked by arrows. The scene is painted in grim detail, with blood creating an “unwholesome shade” and smoke from burning corpses hanging heavy in the air. Dalinar’s reflections are tinged with personal guilt, particularly recalling a catastrophic failure from his past that still haunts him.
Amid the carnage, Dalinar grapples with the moral weight of war and the haunting logic of surrender proposed by Taravangian. He considers whether continuing to fight serves his people’s survival or merely prolongs their suffering. While he trusts the Fused’s intentions to some degree, he remains wary of Odium’s unpredictable and destructive nature. Accompanied by generals and allies, including the perceptive Mink, Dalinar masks his inner turmoil, projecting the stoic demeanor expected of a leader despite his growing revulsion for violence.
The Mink provides a strategic assessment, noting the enemy’s calculated retreat from Emul to preserve resources elsewhere. He emphasizes the delicate balance of their war efforts and secures Dalinar’s promise to prioritize liberating Herdaz after Alethkar and Urithiru. Their exchange highlights the political and tactical complexities of the conflict, as well as Dalinar’s reliance on allies like the Mink, whose insights prove invaluable. Yet, even in victory, Dalinar feels adrift, his thoughts consumed by the unresolved siege of Urithiru and Navani’s captivity.
The chapter closes with Dalinar alone in a command tent, staring at a goblet of rubies—a stark reminder of bloodshed—and wrestling with uncharacteristic emotional exhaustion. His internal monologue reveals a leader burdened by the cost of war, no longer the bloodthirsty Blackthorn of legend but a man struggling to reconcile duty with his growing aversion to killing. The victory feels hollow, overshadowed by larger strategic threats and personal losses, leaving Dalinar in a state of uneasy contemplation.
FAQs
1. How does Dalinar’s experience and perspective as a seasoned commander shape his analysis of the battlefield?
Answer:
Dalinar’s extensive military experience allows him to perform a detailed “autopsy” of the battle by interpreting the placement and condition of corpses. He notes swaths of singers indicating broken lines, human corpses bunched against the river revealing poor footing, and arrow placements marking the battle’s beginning and end. His analysis extends beyond tactical observations to emotional and psychological insights—he recognizes the futility of certain deaths and the bureaucratic failures (like missing uniform patches) that deny families closure. This dual perspective—strategic and humanistic—reflects his evolution from a purely tactical commander to one who increasingly loathes the costs of war, as seen in his visceral reaction to the “unwholesome shade” of blood and smoke.2. What internal conflict does Dalinar grapple with regarding his role in the war, and how does it manifest?
Answer:
Dalinar struggles with a profound moral conflict: his duty as a commander demands pride in victory and tactical prowess, but his personal growth has led him to revile the violence he orchestrates. This tension manifests in his secret shame—the “Blackthorn” (his warrior identity) has “lost the will to kill.” He masks his disgust during interactions with victorious troops, but his inner turmoil is evident in his sensory aversion (e.g., the rotting fruit-like blood) and his fixation on past failures, like the burned city that symbolizes his greatest shame. The chapter highlights his growing alignment with Taravangian’s argument that surrender might eventually preserve lives, contrasting sharply with his generals’ celebratory attitudes.3. Analyze the strategic implications of the Mink’s assessment of the Emul campaign. How does it reflect the enemy’s broader war strategy?
Answer:
The Mink observes that the enemy prioritized resource allocation over total victory in Emul, deliberately avoiding overcommitment to preserve strength in Jah Keved. This reveals a calculated, long-term strategy: the enemy aims to rule rather than destroy, using Emul as a diversion to lure Dalinar’s forces without jeopardizing key territories. The Mink’s insight underscores the enemy’s efficiency—they fought enough to maintain pressure but retreated when losses outweighed gains. This mirrors Dalinar’s own tactical pragmatism (e.g., considering surrender) and foreshadows future conflicts where resource management and territorial control will outweigh outright annihilation.4. How does the chapter use sensory details (e.g., blood, smoke) to convey thematic tensions between war’s necessity and its horrors?
Answer:
The “unwholesome shade” of blood—a mix of orange and red resembling rotting fruit—symbolizes the decay inherent in war, while the ubiquitous smoke ties Dalinar’s present trauma to past failures. These sensory motifs contrast with the generals’ clinical detachment (e.g., collecting uniform patches) and the troops’ feasting amid “butchery.” The dissonance between visceral revulsion and institutionalized violence reflects the chapter’s central tension: war’s strategic “necessity” versus its dehumanizing effects. Dalinar’s heightened sensitivity to these details (e.g., burning bodies smelling like his greatest shame) marks his moral awakening, while others’ indifference underscores war’s normalization.5. Evaluate Dalinar’s promise to the Mink (“Alethkar next, then Herdaz”). What does this reveal about their alliance and Dalinar’s priorities?
Answer:
Dalinar’s pledge prioritizes Urithiru’s recapture but strategically sequences Alethkar and Herdaz’s liberation to maintain the Mink’s loyalty. The Mink, recognizing Alethkar’s fall would aid Herdaz’s freedom, accepts this pragmatically. Their alliance hinges on mutual interest, not idealism: Dalinar needs the Mink’s tactical brilliance, while the Mink leverages Dalinar’s resources. The promise also reflects Dalinar’s evolving leadership—he balances immediate goals (Urithiru) with long-term alliances, contrasting his earlier single-minded campaigns. However, his personal despair (“drifting in the ocean”) hints that such promises may strain under his growing war-weariness.
Quotes
1. “To Dalinar, the scent of smoke was inexorably tied to that of blood. He would have trouble counting how many times he’d performed this same long hike across a fresh battlefield.”
This opening line establishes Dalinar’s war-weary perspective and the cyclical nature of conflict in his experience. It introduces the chapter’s reflective tone on the costs of war.
2. “The blood here was more orange than red, but the two mixed to make an unwholesome shade, the off-red of a rotting methi fruit.”
This vivid description of the battlefield’s unnatural colors encapsulates the chapter’s central metaphor of corruption and decay, while also giving the chapter its title.
3. “Every general knew there was a time to turn your sword point down and deliver it to your enemy with head bowed. Surrender was a valid tactic when your goal was the preservation of your people.”
This represents Dalinar’s internal conflict about continuing the war against Odium, showing his growing doubts about whether victory is possible or worth the cost.
4. “That was becoming his deepest secret: the Blackthorn had finally become what men had been accusing him of for years. A soldier who had lost the will to kill.”
This pivotal revelation shows Dalinar’s fundamental transformation from warmonger to reluctant leader, highlighting his personal growth and the chapter’s theme of changed perspectives.
5. “It’s like I’m drifting in the ocean. We won today, but Navani is still trapped.”
This closing thought captures Dalinar’s emotional state - victorious in battle but feeling powerless in the larger conflict, emphasizing the chapter’s tension between tactical success and strategic uncertainty.